Attachment for box folding machines



Dec. 29, 1942-. c. E. MAUL I I 'ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOLDING MACHINES IFiled April 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 11v VENTOR, Czmezwci :7 /Y/: 04 BYA TTORNE Y5 Dec. 29, 1942. c. E. MAUL ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOLDINGMACHINES 4 She ets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1941 2 11v VENTOR HIPf/VCE27/7404.

I C BY W #111 A TTORNE Y5 Dec. 29, .1942 c. E. MAUL 2,306,822

ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOL DING MACHINES Filed April 12, 1941 4 Sheds-Sheet3 11v VENTOR A TTQR E Y:

D -29.1942 E. M. I 2,306,822

ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOLDING MACHINES Filed A ril 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet4 I AT T ORNE YJ Patented Dec. 29, 1942 ATTACHMENT FOR BOX FOLDINGMACHINES Clarence E. Maul, Bellevil le, N. J., assig'nor to The ClarkThread Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationApril 12, 1941, Serial No. 388,195

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in machines of the type inwhich a cycle of operations is effected for the application of a wrapperto a foldable box, as for example a paper box, carried on a form.

In such machines it is desired to hold the box on the form duringcertain of the operations or during a predetermined part of the cycleas, for example, by the application of an automatic finger or fingers toa selected portion or portions of the box to hold it in contact with theform. It is also desired to remove or retract said finger or fingersfrom the box prior to the completion of the operations constituting thecycle or during another predetermined part of said cycle, so that thefingers will be out of the path of the tools necessary to complete thecycle and so that the finger or fingers will not mar the finishedwrapper.

In a typical instance a box form descends and ascends in a vertical pathand a cycle of operations is effected by means of tools applied to thebox as it travels through said path. During a portion of said path thebox must be held on the form either manually or automatically becausethere is no support, for the box other than by said manual or automaticmeans until a later portion of the cycle during which a platform orelevator, also moving in a Vertical path, comes in contact with the boxcarried by the form and cooperates with the latter in providing adequatesupport. Manual holding of the box during said preliminary stages of thecycle is inconsistent with the attainment of the necessary output peroperator. Great difficulty has been experienced in devising suitableautomatic means for holding the box on the form during said. preliminarypart of the cycle. At the beginning of the cycle sufiicient clearancemust be provided between the holding device and the form to permitmounting the box on the form quickly and without marring the box. Assoon as the mounting operation is completed and the form moves down theholding means must then immediately engage the box to perform its hold-.ing function. In the typical case mentioned the holding device must beretracted at a predetermined stage of the cycle and remain retractedduring the remainder thereof in order to permit the application of thetools necessary to complete the cycle of operations and also to avoidcontact of the holding means with the box in its completed form with thewrapper attached.

In accordance with the present invention, one

or more gripping members or fingers are provided which for the sake orconvenience will be referred to as clips. In some cases, as for examplewhere the box is sufiiciently small, a single clip may be adequate; inother cases two or more clips may be necessary. These cl psare mountedfor movement into contact with the box carried on the form and out ofcontact therewith. Clip-urging means are provided to urge the clip intocontact with the box, and clip-retracting means are provided to retractthe clip from the box and, if necessary, to cause it to remain in saidretracted position. Means are also provided to operate the clip-urgingmeans and clip-retracting means during predetermined parts of the cycleof operations. In the spec fic embodiment of the invention shown here n.the clip-urging means is operated during the first part of the cycle andthe clip-retracting means during the remainder of the cycle. Inaccordance with the invention the clip-urging means or clip-retractingmeans is operated electromagnetically as, for example. by means of asolenoid forming part of an electric circuit which when closed energizesthe solenoid and causes the clip to come in contact with the box on theform and hold the box against said form. Means are provided to closesaid circuit and open it at predetermined stages of the cycle and tokeep the circuit closed, said circuit clos ng means being operated intimed relation to the operation of tools applied during the cycle. Thesynchronizing of the time during which the electric circuit is closedand the solenoid energized with the operations effected during the cycleof the machine may be established by the rotation of the shaft by whichthe tools are operated. For example, one complete revolution of theshaft which operates the tools establishes a cycle of operations andmeans may be provided. such as a rotatably mounted member rotated bysaid shaft, to engage a switch to close said el ctr cal circuit and tomaintain it in closed cond tion in timed relation to the rotation ofsaid shaft and, consequently, to the application of the tools.

Both the clip-urgin and clip-retracting means ma be independentlyactuated by a solenoid. Generally. howeverhit is sufi'icient t at one ofthese means be so actuated. For example, the clip may be urged and heldin contact with the box on the form during a predetermined part of thecycle of operations by the energization of a solenoid. and the clip maybe retracted from the box during the remainder of the cycle bymechanical means (e. g., a spring) which becomes operative to cause saidretraction upon de-energization of the solenoid. This order may,however, be reversed so that the clip is urged into contact with the boxon the form by mechanical means, as for example a spring, and held incontact during a predetermined part of the cycle and then retracted andmaintained in said retracted position by the operation of a solenoid.Each of the said means, to wit, clipurging and clip-retracting means,may be arran ed to become operative to perform its respective functionwhen the other means is placed in inoperative pos tion.

A specific embodiment of the invention will be described in order tofurther explain and illustrate t. and the principles of the inventionwill be defined in the claims ultimately appended hereto.

In the drawings accompanying the specification- Fig. 1 is an isometricview showing two clips mounted on a machine for applying a wrapper to anelongated rectangular box;

F 2 shows an unstayed box with a wrapper partially applied thereto,ready for mounting on the form;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the clips in spaced relation to thebox mounted on the form at the beginning of the cycle of operations;

4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the engagement of a clip withthe end of the box;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly diagrammatic, of an electric circuit includingthe solenoids, a switch to close said circuit and means, shown partly insection, to actuate the switch during a predetermined part of the cycleof operations;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a rotatably mounted member rotated by the shaftwhich establishes a cycle of operations, equipped with means to closethe solenoid circuit in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft andin synchronized relation to the several operations and the applicationof the tools performing said operations;

Fig. '7 is a front elevational view of a typical machine in connectionwith which the invention may be applied; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the same machine,

Referring more especially to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the pair of clipsshown are identical in construction, function and operation and it istherefore sufiicient to describe the structure of one of them. A lever Ihaving arms 2 and 3 is p votally mounted intermediate the ends thereofby means of a pin 4 rigidly secured to the lever and rotatably mountedin a pair of hear.- ing lugs 5. To one end of the lever is pivotallymounted an end of the plunger 8 of the solenoid 9 mounted within ahousing I!) adjustably Se.- cured to and suspended from the rod H by thebl ck l2 secured to said rod by the screw I5. The end of the arm ,3 ofthe lever is provided with a transverse contact member or shoe 15. Wh lethe arm 2 is preferably rigid, the arm 3 is preferably resilient forreasons pointed out hereinafter. The bracket IS carrying the bear.- inglugs 5 also carries a depending bracket which in turn carries anadjustable stop member 22. A retraction spring 23 is connected at oneend to the bracket 2!! and at the other end to the lever I.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the solenoids 9 form part of an electriccircuit supplied with current from a .source 21. In series with thiscircuit is placed a switch which may be of the conventional type knownto the trade as a micro switch, contained within a housing 28. Theswitch comprises cooperating resilient contact members 29, 30, one ofwhich, 39, coacts with a stud 32 passing through an aperture in thebottom of the housing, said stud having a pointed contact at its upperend and being supported at its lower end on a resilient member 33secured at one end to the bottom of the housing by means of a block andscrews 35. From the other end of the resilient member the bracket 38 issuspended, on which is rotatably mounted a roller 39 adapted to engageand ride over the surface of a segmental plate 49 secured to therotatably mounted member 42. The housing 28 is suspended from andsupported by a bracket 53 sei cured to another bracket 44, which in turnis secured to the framework 45 of the machine. The rotatably mountedmember 42 is rigidly secured to the shaft 48, one complete rotation ofwhich establishes the cycle of operations which it is desired to effect.In the particular embodiment of the invention as applied to the machineshown in assembled form in Figs. 7 and 8, the rotatably mounted member42 is the large cam lsee Figs. 7 and 8) which effects some of theoperations performed during the complete cycle of the machine, but therotatably mounted memher 42 need not be limited to said cam and may beany suitable rotatably mounted member rotated by the shaft 48.

The operation of the clips will now be described apart from theparticular machine shown in assembly in Figs. 7 and 8, since theinvention is not limited to use on this particular machine. Thereafterthe description of the machine as a whole will be provided, togetherwith the use and operation of the clips as a part of the cycle ofoperations performed by said machine.

During the rotation of the rotatably mounted member 42 the roller 39engages the segmental plate 40, thus causing the stud 32 to moveupwardly and close the solenoid circuit, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thelevers I then swing from the retracted position thereof shown in Figs. 1and 3 into the contact position shown in Fig. 4 against the tension ofthe spring 23, and remain in this position as long as the roller 39remains in contact with the segmental plate 49. When the roller ridesoff the plate the stud 32 is biased down, thus opening the solenoidcircuit and causing de-energization of the solenoids whereupon theretraction springs 23 then retract the levers into the position shown inFigs. 1 and 3, in which position they remain until the roller 39 againengages the plate M1. Since one complete revolution of the rotatablymounted member 42 establishes the cycle of operations performed by themachine with which the fingers are employed, the solenoid may beenergized and caused to remain energized during any predetermined partof said cycle by lengthening or shortening the peripheral dimensions ofthe segmental plate 40 so that it will contact the roller 39 and closethe solenoid circuit during any predetermined fractional part of thetotal time required for one complete revolution of said rotatablymounted member. Therefore the clips can be placed in their position ofcontact with the box carried by the form in any predetermined timedrelation to rotation of said rotatably mounted member and the operationseffected by the rotation of the shaft 48 whcih controls the applicationand sequence of the various tools applied during said operations.

Thegeneral assembly of the machines shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and in partin Fig. 1 will now be described, in order to show how the invention maybe applied in connection with said machine in timed relation to thecycle thereof and the several operations performed in sequence by theseries of tools which it is the object of said machine to operate.

To the frame 45 of the machine is attached a guideway 58 in which isslidably mounted a plunger to the lower end of which is rigidly securedthe bottom portion 54 of a separable form block structure, the upperseparable portion 55 of which rests upon the bottom portion 54 bygravity and is movable in relation thereto and to the plunger by meansof guide rods 56 slidably mounted in bearings or collars 57 carried bythe plunger 5|. The plunger 51 is indirectly operated by th lever 60connected to the plunger 5! at one end by the stud 6!, fulcrumedat theother end on the pivot pin 52 and actuated by a cam follower 63 movingin the groove 64 of the cam 42.

. The yoke rods 69 carrying the stripper bars It are mounted forrelative movement in respect of th plunger, in part by means of guiderods 12 slidably mounted in collars l3 rigidly secured to the guideway543. The yoke rods carry the clips or levers l and the stripper bars '10are adjustably secured to the yoke rods by means of the bolts 14, nuts15 and blocks l2. Movement of this collective mechanism including theclips, yoke rods, stripper bars, yoke and guide rods is effected by alink- '18 pivotally connected at th upper end thereof to the lever 86fulcrumed on the pivot 8!, said lever carrying at the other end a camfollower 82 moving in the groove 83 of the cam 42. The cam 42 is mountedon the primary shaft 48 driven by the pulley 86, worm 81 and worm gear88, a suitable clutch being provided and operated by clutch bar 90.

'Subjacent to and cooperating with the mechanism previously described isa platen 9| supported on a piston 92 which descends and ascends in avertical path.

A series of tools which may be described and designated as side rollers93, end lap plates 94,

end rollers 95, turn-in plates 96 and presser plates F1 91 are arrangedfor operation in timed relation to the rotation of the shaft 48 andoperation of the cam 42 by means of the cam 98 mounted on shaft 48 andactuating levers, one of which levers, Hill, is shown as fulcrumed onthe pivot lfil and connected to the sleeve I02 mounted for slidablemovement on the support I93, said sleeve I92 being provided with crossarms I05 supporting mechanism for operating the marginal turnin toolsand presser blocks.

The use of the invention in the operation of the machines shown inassembly form in Figs. '7 and 8 will now be described, attention beingdirected at this time to Fig. 2 which shows the box (which may be in theunstayed form, as shown) with the wrapper united by suitable adhesive tothe bottom thereof, this being the form in which th box and wrapperappear just prior to mounting the box on th form block. The series ofoperations performed may be described as follows:

The gummed sides of the wrapper are first wiped up and united to thesides of the box. The portions of the sides extending beyond the ends ofthe box are then turned in and united to the ends of the box by means ofthe end lap plates. The ends of the wrapper are then wiped up and unitedto the sides of the box by means of the end rollers. At the end of theseoperations the sides and ends of the wrapper project up beyond the edgesof the box. The form block then separates at a point which is one-halfrevolution of the shaft 48 to permit the operation of marginal turn-intools which turn in at right angles to the ends and sides of the boxthose portions of the sides and ends of the wrapper projecting beyondthe edges of the box. The said upper portion which is mounted, asalready stated, for slidable movement in relation to the plungercarrying the lower portion of the form block, then falls into contactwith said lower portion and folds the turned-in portions of the wrapperinto union with the interior corresponding surfaces of the box.Thereafter the presser blocks move in to press the sides and ends of thewrapper into firm engagement with the sides and ends of the box. At thisstage of the operations the form block and platen are at the lowest partof the vertical path. The yoke rods then remain stationary and the upperportion 55 of the form block rises, and in rising is withdrawn from thebox which is thus stripped from the form block. Thereafter the yoke rodsrise to occupy the position in relation to the form block shown in Figs.'7 and 8. The finished box is then ejected from the platen by thetrigger 58.

At the beginning of the cycle the various parts of the apparatus occupythe positions shown in Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 8 with the roller 39 (shown inFig. 7) in advance of the plate 45 a sufficient distance to permit timefor the opera tor to mount the box as shown in Fig. 3 on the form block.Rotation of the cam 42 then promptly causes engagement of the cam 'plate40 with the roller 39 and energization of the solenoids 9 by closing ofthe switch (as shown in Figs. 5 and 6) whereupon the levers l aresimultaneously swung, as shown in Fig. 4, into engagement with the endsof the box to hold them againstthe box form. The box and form thendescend and the bottom of the box meets the platen 9| which thendescends together with the box and box form to permit the application ofthe tools consisting of the side rollers, and lap plates, end rollers,marginal turn-in tools and presser blocks. The dimensions and locationof the segmental plate 49 are so designed and arranged that the solenoidcircuit remains closed and the levers or clips I remain in engagementwith the ends of the box during the application of the side rollers andend lap plates and just prior to the application of the end rollers,since it is desirable that the clips remain in contact with and hold theends of the box against the form until just prior to the application ofsaid end rollers. At this point the roller 38 shown in Fig. '7 rides offthe end of the plate 4!! and the solenoid circuit is thus broken,whereupon the retracting springs 23 retract the levers I from the endsof the box and maintain the contact portions I6 out of contact with theends of the box and in spaced relation thereto during the remainder ofthe cycle. The said remainder of the cycle, as already stated, comprisesthe movement of the platen 9i together with the box form and yoke rodsto the lowermost position, as above described, and then back to theposition of the platen shown in Figs. 7 and 8, whereupon the yoke rodsand levers remain stationary and the box form moves upwardly, thusstripping the box from the box form and leaving it on the platen in aposition to be ejected by the trigger. Owing to the fact that the leversare in the retracted position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, stripping of thebox from the form is readily accomplished Without contact of the ends ofthe box with the levers and marring of the box thereby. Rotation of thecam 42 then continues to a point where the roller is in advance of theposition relative to the platen shown in Fig. '7, and the yoke rods 1!],box form 54, 55 and levers l are in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8,thus completing the cycle.

I claim:

1. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by therevolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of toolsperforming said operations in timed relation to the rotation of saidmember said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form duringa predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movementinto and out of contact with said box; means urging said clip intocontact with the box to hold it against said form during a part of saidcycle, and means to retract said clip to a position out of contact withand in spaced relation to said box and to maintain the clip in thatposition during the remainder of said cycle, at least one of said meansbeing actuated during operation of the apparatus by electromagneticmeans forming a part of a closed electrical circuit, and means actuatedby said rotatably mounted member to open and close said circuit and tomaintain it in closed condition during that part of said cycle in whichthe electromagnetic means is actuated in timed relation to the rotationof said member.

2. In a machine for eiiecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form, said cycle being controlled by therevolution of a rotatably mounted drive shaft actuating a series oftools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation ofsaid shaft said machine having mechanism to hold the box on said formduring a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted formovement into contact with said box and out of contact therewith; meansurging said clip into contact with the box to hold it against said formduring a part of said cycle, and means to retract said clip to aposition out of contact with and in spaced relation to said box and tomaintain the clip in that position during the remainder of said cycle,at least one of said means being actuated during operation of the apparatus-by electromagnetic means forming a part of a closed electricalcircuit, and means to open and close said circuit and to maintain it inclosed condition during that part of said cycle in which theelectromagnetic means is actuated, said last named means comprising aswitch and means actuated by said drive shaft to open and close saidswitch and to maintain said switch in closed condition in timed relationto the rotation of said shaft.

3. In a machine for eiiecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form, said cycle being controlled by therevolution of a rotatably mounted drive shaft actuating a series oftools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation ofsaid shaft said machine having mechanism to hold the box on said formduring a predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted formovement into contact with said box and out of contact therewith; meansurging said clip into contact with the box to hold it against said formduring a part of said cycle, and means to retract said clip to aposition out of contact with and in spaced relation to said box and tomaintain the clip in that position during the remainder of said cycle,at least one of said means being actuated during operation of theapparatus by electromagnetic means forming a part of a closed electricalcircuit, and means to open and close said circuit and to maintain it inclosed condition during that part of said cycle in which theelectromagnetic means is actuated, said last named means comprising aswitch in said circuit, and a rotatably mounted member rotated by saiddrive shaft during operation of the machine and provided with means toopen and close said switch and to maintain it in closed position intimed relation to the rotation of said shaft and application of saidtools.

4. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a Wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by therevolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of toolsperforming said operations in timed relation to the rotation of saidmember said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form duringa predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movement into and out of contact with said box; clipurging means urging saidclip into contact with the box to hold it against said form during apredetermined part of said cycle; clip-retracting means to retract saidclip and maintain it in a position out of contact with said box duringthe remainder of said cycle; at least one of said means being actuated,during operation of the machine, by electromagnetic means forming partof a closed electrical circuit, and means actuated by said rotatablymounted member to open and close said circuit and to maintain it inclosed condition during that part of said cycle in which theelectromagnetic means is actuated in timed relation to the rotation ofsaid member.

5. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by therevolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of toolsperforming said operations in timed relation to the rotation of saidmember said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form duringa predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movementinto and out of contact with said box; clip-urging means urging saidclip into contact with the box to hold it against said form during apredetermined part of said cycle; clipretracting means to retract saidclip and maintain it in a position out of contact with said box duringthe remainder of said cycle; the clip-urging means being actuated duringoperation of the machine by electromagnetic means forming part of aclosed electrical circuit, and means actuated by said rotatably mountedmember to open and close said circuit and to maintain it in closedcondition during said predetermined part of said cycle in timed relationto the rotation of said member.

6. In a machine for efiecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by therevolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of toolsperforming said operations in timed relation to the rotation of saidmember said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form duringa predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movementinto and out of contact with said box; clip-urging means urging saidclip into contact with the box to hold it against said form during apredetermined part of said cycle; clip-retracting means to retract saidclip and maintain it in a position out of contact with said box duringthe remainder of said cycle; the clip-urging means being actuated duringoperation of the machine by electromagnetic means forming part of aclosed electrical circuit, means actuated by said rotatably mountedmember to close said circuit, to maintain it in closed condition duringsaid predetermined part of said cycle, to open said circuit at the endof said predetermined part of the cycle and to maintain said circuit inopen position during the remainder of said cycle in timed relation tothe rotation of said member.

7. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by therevolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of toolsperforming said operations in timed relation to the rotation of saidmember said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form duringa predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movementinto and out of contact with said box; means urging said clip intocontact with said box to hold it against said form and means to retractsaid clip to a position out of contact with and in spaced relation tosaid box; at least one of said means being actuated during operation ofthe apparatus by electromagnetic means forming a part of a closedelectrical circuit, and means actuated by said rotatably mounted memberto open and close said circuit at predetermined stages of said cycle intimed relation to the rotation of said member.

8. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a Wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form said machine having mechanism tohold the box on said form during a predetermined part of said cycleincluding a lever pivotally mounted for swinging movement into contactwith the box on said form and out of contact therewith; means urgingsaid lever to swing about its pivot in one direction into contact withthe box on said form to hold the box against said form during a part ofsaid cycle, and rebeing spring-actuated and the other of said meansbeing solenoid-operated, and means to energize and de-energize saidsolenoid and to maintain it in energized condition during apredetermined part of said cycle.

9. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form, said cycle being controlled by therevolution of a rotatably mounted drive shaft actuating a series oftools performing said operations in timed relation to the rotation ofsaid shaft said machine having mechanism to hold the box on said formduring a predetermined part of said cycle including a lever pivotallymounted for swinging movement into contact with the box on said form andout of contact therewith; means urging said lever to swing about itspivot in one direction into contact with the box on said form to holdthe box against said form during a part of said cycle, and retractingmeans to swing said lever about its pivot in the other direction and toretract it into a position out of contact with said box and to maintainsaid lever in that position during the remainder of said cycle; thefirst of said means comprising a solenoid forming part of an electricalcircuit, means to energize said solenoid and to maintain it in energizedcondition during said predetermined part of said cycle and tode-energize said solenoid and maintain it in deenergized conditionduring the remainder of said cycle, said last named means comprising aswitch in said circuit, and a rotatably mounted member rotated by saiddrive shaft during operation of the machine and provided withmeans toopen and close said switch and to maintain it in closed position intimed relation to the rotation of said shaft and application of saidtools.

10. In a machine for effecting a cycle of operations to apply a wrapperto a foldable box carried on a form said cycle being controlled by therevolution of a rotatably mounted member actuating a series of toolsperforming said operations in timed relation to the rotation of saidmember said machine having mechanism to hold the box on the form duringa predetermined part of said cycle including a clip mounted for movementinto and out of contact with said box; means normally maintaining saidclip in spaced relation to said box; solenoid-operated means to urgesaid clip toward and in contact with said box upon energization of saidsolenoid, and means actuated by said rotatably mounted member toenergize and de-energize said solenoid at predetermined stages of saidcycle in timed relation to the rotation of said member.

CLARENCE E. MAUL.

